| "City ravaged by chain
| |
| | Store a 3-5 day supply of water (a
|
| explosions...chemical company razed...oil
| |
| | minimum of at least 5 gallons for each
|
| refineries explode and burn...utilities
| |
| | person).
|
| disrupted...water supply condemned after
| |
| | A clean water supply is also essential
|
| a fire broke out on a freighter in port."
| |
| | for fighting disease and medical
|
| "Power outage sparks one of the worst
| |
| | emergencies. For example, any loss of
|
| water crises in the city's history as all
| |
| | blood increases our water intake
|
| four water pumps go down at once."
| |
| | requirements substantially.
|
| "Seven people dead and 2,300 ill after
| |
| | Bottled water is helpful and easy, but it
|
| one of the town's wells becomes
| |
| | may not always be available. For example,
|
| contaminated with E. Coli."
| |
| | if both the water infrastructure and
|
| These headlines are not the result of
| |
| | transportation system are unusable,
|
| terrorist activities. Accidents, lack of
| |
| | deliveries of bottled water and other
|
| training and expertise and equipment
| |
| | supplies might be difficult if not
|
| failure brought about these disasters,
| |
| | impossible. What would you do when your
|
| which highlight the vulnerability of our
| |
| | bottled water supply ran out? What if the
|
| water systems. If these types of
| |
| | local stores ran out or the supply was
|
| incidents were purposely carried out by
| |
| | contaminated? This kind of scenario could
|
| terrorists, the loss and destruction
| |
| | easily happen in a major hurricane,
|
| could be far worse. Our nation's water
| |
| | earthquake or terrorist attack. There are
|
| systems can be disrupted and are
| |
| | several things that you can do to prepare
|
| potential targets for terrorism.
| |
| | for this eventuality.
|
| J. Edgar Hoover, in 1941, warned that our
| |
| | First, become knowledgeable and file the
|
| water systems were potentially vulnerable
| |
| | necessary information where it will be
|
| targets. Because they are critical to our
| |
| | readily available in an emergency, such
|
| way of life and the economic viability of
| |
| | as in your emergency kit. There are
|
| our country, Presidential Directive 63
| |
| | plenty of resources available to help you
|
| (May 1998) identified our nation's water
| |
| | prepare.
|
| systems as one of the eight critical
| |
| | To start, check the Department of
|
| infrastructures subject to attack by
| |
| | Homeland Security, FEMA and CDC websites
|
| terrorists.
| |
| | for emergency preparation information.
|
| Reducing Our Vulnerability
| |
| | Second, in addition to the recommended
|
| Much has been done to improve security
| |
| | three day supply of food and water,
|
| and reduce our vulnerability since the 9
| |
| | consider storing additional water in
|
| 11 terrorist attacks in the United
| |
| | larger storage tanks or drums in the
|
| States. We have struck back at terrorism
| |
| | garage, basement or storage shed. Plastic
|
| militarily. Congress has passed several
| |
| | water storage tanks and drums, which are
|
| landmark pieces of legislation. The
| |
| | generally recommended, are relatively
|
| Department of Homeland Security was
| |
| | inexpensive. An additional 200 gallons of
|
| established. Industries, businesses and
| |
| | water storage would extend your water
|
| critical sections of the infrastructure,
| |
| | supply to 200 days for one person or 50
|
| including water suppliers, have done
| |
| | days for a family of four. Make sure to
|
| vulnerability studies and continue to
| |
| | also have an emergency kit in your car as
|
| implement strategies to reduce their
| |
| | you might not be at home when an
|
| vulnerability.
| |
| | emergency situation occurs.
|
| Impacts of Hurricane Katrina
| |
| | Third, be sure to include some simple
|
| Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 are a
| |
| | water disinfectant tools available so
|
| perfect example of a major water and
| |
| | that you can make use of any available
|
| wastewater system disruption. Thousands
| |
| | raw water supplies. One such disinfectant
|
| of people were directly impacted for
| |
| | is common, unscented, liquid, household
|
| months and many still have not returned
| |
| | bleach.
|
| to the affected areas.
| |
| | Several simple techniques for
|
| According to a Congressional Research
| |
| | disinfecting water are listed below.
|
| Service Report for Congress dated October
| |
| | Boiling-Boil vigorously for one minute.
|
| 19, 2005, the EPA estimated that more
| |
| | At altitudes above one mile, boil for
|
| than 1,220 drinking water systems and
| |
| | three minutes.
|
| more than 200 wastewater treatment
| |
| | Chlorine Bleach-When boiling is not
|
| facilities in Louisiana, Mississippi and
| |
| | practical, chemical disinfection should
|
| Alabama had been impacted by the
| |
| | be used. The two chemicals commonly used
|
| hurricane.
| |
| | are chlorine and iodine. When the
|
| The same CRS report notes that two weeks
| |
| | available chlorine in the bleach is known
|
| after the hurricane, 30% of the affected
| |
| | use the following ratios:1% - 10 drops
|
| drinking water systems and 40% of the
| |
| | per quart, 4 to 6% - 2 drops per quart, 7
|
| affected wastewater facilities were again
| |
| | to 10% - 1 drop per quart, if unknown use
|
| operational. However, many of the
| |
| | 10 drops per quart. If water is cloudy or
|
| inoperable drinking water and wastewater
| |
| | the water temperature is extremely cold
|
| plants serve the largest number of
| |
| | double, the amount of chlorine.
|
| customers.
| |
| | Tincture of Iodine-Common household
|
| Federal, state and local agencies shipped
| |
| | iodine from the medicine chest or first
|
| in bottled water and bulk water supplies.
| |
| | aid kit may be used to disinfect water.
|
| For instance, one company
| |
| | Add five drops of 2 percent United States
|
| (Anheuser-Busch) donated more than two
| |
| | Pharmacopeia (U.S.P.) Tincture of iodine
|
| million cans of water per week to the
| |
| | to each quart of clear water. For cloudy
|
| Katrina relief efforts in September 2005.
| |
| | water add ten drops and let the solution
|
| Citizen Preparedness
| |
| | stand for at least 30 minutes.
|
| However, since we are still vulnerable,
| |
| | Fourth, there are a variety of small,
|
| how would the citizens of this country
| |
| | portable water decontamination units
|
| react to a prolonged disruption of their
| |
| | specially made for hikers and
|
| water supply? The Hurricane Katrina
| |
| | backpackers. These units are designed to
|
| disaster in New Orleans gives us an idea.
| |
| | take raw water from streams or lakes and
|
| Many area water and wastewater systems
| |
| | make it potable.
|
| were disrupted for days, weeks or months.
| |
| | Having one or two of these units per
|
| Water and food supplies had to be brought
| |
| | family of four is an excellent option.
|
| in for months afterward.
| |
| | Plus, including one of these units in
|
| The Department of Homeland Security
| |
| | your emergency automobile kit is also
|
| (DHS), Federal Emergency Management
| |
| | recommended.
|
| Agency (FEMA) and Centers for Disease
| |
| | Much of what is being done to protect our
|
| Control (CDC) recommend having at least a
| |
| | water supply can only really be effective
|
| three day supply of food and water per
| |
| | if Americans themselves become informed
|
| person to cope with any emergency. The
| |
| | and aware. The American Water Works
|
| minimum drinking water suggested supply
| |
| | Association (AWWA) notes, "In many cities
|
| is 1 gallon per person per day. The US
| |
| | and small towns, the public is the first
|
| Army Survival Manual uses an absolute
| |
| | line of defense, serving as an extra set
|
| minimum of 2 quarts per day per person in
| |
| | of eyes watching over key utility assets
|
| a cold climate and much more in a hot
| |
| | such as tanks, reservoirs and even fire
|
| climate. Activity level also affects your
| |
| | hydrants." This first line of defense
|
| water intake requirement. In addition,
| |
| | also extends to our families and
|
| you also need water for food preparation,
| |
| | communities by being prepared for a water
|
| bathing, brushing teeth and dish washing.
| |
| | system disruption.
|
